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aaaashaaa's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
camillatd's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Small Beauty is an introspective & quietly gorgeous novel about grief, friendship, family, and home.
There’s not much to say by way of plot summary: Mei, a Chinese-Canadian trans woman, moves into her cousin’s house after his death. While there, Mei spends several months in near-complete solitude, kept company by memories of her family. As she reflects on the spaces left behind by her cousin, aunt, grandmother, and mother, she sees more clearly those who fill her life: friends, sisters, unexpected family.
At just a slim 160 pages, Small Beauty manages to be emotionally weighty without feeling heavy. The subject matter is serious, and often heartbreaking, but the suffering of the characters isn’t the central point. There’s a sort of peaceful quality to the rhythm of the book, which oscillates between past and present, childhood and adulthood. But Small Beauty resists the separation of trans stories into “then” and “now”—which felt important as we wove our way through Mei’s life.
The story comes together gradually, with each shift in time and place bringing new pieces of Mei’s life and family to the fore. This short novel is richly layered, and the meditative pace of the story makes each piece feel earned.
I don’t want to say much else! You just have to experience it! For such a quiet book, I flew through it. I could have read it in one sitting, if my schedule had permitted. If you love stories about family, grief, intergenerational queerness, trans friendship, and the meaning of home, this one not to miss.
There’s not much to say by way of plot summary: Mei, a Chinese-Canadian trans woman, moves into her cousin’s house after his death. While there, Mei spends several months in near-complete solitude, kept company by memories of her family. As she reflects on the spaces left behind by her cousin, aunt, grandmother, and mother, she sees more clearly those who fill her life: friends, sisters, unexpected family.
At just a slim 160 pages, Small Beauty manages to be emotionally weighty without feeling heavy. The subject matter is serious, and often heartbreaking, but the suffering of the characters isn’t the central point. There’s a sort of peaceful quality to the rhythm of the book, which oscillates between past and present, childhood and adulthood. But Small Beauty resists the separation of trans stories into “then” and “now”—which felt important as we wove our way through Mei’s life.
The story comes together gradually, with each shift in time and place bringing new pieces of Mei’s life and family to the fore. This short novel is richly layered, and the meditative pace of the story makes each piece feel earned.
I don’t want to say much else! You just have to experience it! For such a quiet book, I flew through it. I could have read it in one sitting, if my schedule had permitted. If you love stories about family, grief, intergenerational queerness, trans friendship, and the meaning of home, this one not to miss.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Hate crime, Violence, and Transphobia
Moderate: Death and Homophobia
kileyreadsindie's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
5erinnicole's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This story was unique, and interesting. I read this book in 2 days after waiting over a month for someone else to return it to the library.
It did turn out that the anticipation built into unrealistic expectations for me. The story is good, and there were definitely moments of tension. But at the end of the story all I was really sure of was that it would have benefited from an additional editor. Specifically for the dialogue. I really wanted to care about and love the characters but at times it felt like a few too many tragedies.
It did turn out that the anticipation built into unrealistic expectations for me. The story is good, and there were definitely moments of tension. But at the end of the story all I was really sure of was that it would have benefited from an additional editor. Specifically for the dialogue. I really wanted to care about and love the characters but at times it felt like a few too many tragedies.
iridescentjemz's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This was a really well written take that is really about ties: family ties, platonic and romantic ties, and ties to the past. Mei is a half Chinese Canadian trans woman who finds herself back amongst the memories of her and her family’s past with many revelations along the way.
It is also about loss and how you try to get back the people and memories you had when you don’t have them anymore. Both for Mei and other characters.
There are many facets to this story and I particularly like this quote: “why should I have to be relatable to get respect?” Which I think can be meaningful to many walks of life but for Mei as a transwoman it means so much. Trans women don’t owe anyone anything and shouldn’t have to conform to a cishet ideal of femininity.
I did knock a star off just because I sometimes felt lost in the jumps forward and backward in time.
It is also about loss and how you try to get back the people and memories you had when you don’t have them anymore. Both for Mei and other characters.
There are many facets to this story and I particularly like this quote: “why should I have to be relatable to get respect?” Which I think can be meaningful to many walks of life but for Mei as a transwoman it means so much. Trans women don’t owe anyone anything and shouldn’t have to conform to a cishet ideal of femininity.
I did knock a star off just because I sometimes felt lost in the jumps forward and backward in time.
hilspd's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
franknstein's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
mateusjobim's review
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
frogggirl2's review
challenging
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a beautifully written, gentle, layered, and meditative slice of life story about a transgender Chinese-Canadian woman. It isn't simplistic and it doesn't pander. Lovely.
"The demanding love of her pushy friend is cold water on a sleepy face" (p. 5).
"The demanding love of her pushy friend is cold water on a sleepy face" (p. 5).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, Racism, Hate crime, and Death